Geranium plant named ‘Noortpurple’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Geranium cinereum , ‘Noortpurple’, that is characterized by its relatively large flowers that are clear deep purple in color with darker purple veins and consistent in color throughout the plant, its long flower peduncles, and its greater resistance to soil fungi relative to other  Geranium cinereum  cultivars.

Botanical classification: Geranium cinereum.

Cultivar designation: ‘Noortpurple’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geraniumplant, botanically known as Geranium cinereum ‘Noortpurple’ and will bereferred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Noortpurple’.

‘Noortpurple’ was derived from a breeding program conducted by theInventor in Warmond, The Netherlands. The objectives of the breedingprogram were to develop new cultivars of Geranium cinereum in a range offlower colors that commence bloom early in the season and exhibitdisease resistance, compact plant habits and rain resistance.‘Noortpurple’ arose from a cross made in 2010 between an unnamed andunpatented plant of Geranium cinereum var. subcaulescens from theInventor's breeding program as the female parent and Geranium cinereum‘Laurence Flatman’ (not patented) as the male parent. The Inventorselected ‘Noortpurple’ as a single unique plant amongst the seedlingsthat resulted from the above cross in May of 2012.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by invitro propagation by the Inventor in Otrebusy, Poland in April of 2014.Asexual propagation by in vitro propagation and root cuttings hasdetermined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable andare reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of ‘Noortpurple’. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Noortpurple’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium.

-   -   1. ‘Noortpurple’ exhibits relatively large flowers that are that        are clear deep purple with darker purple veins in color.    -   2. ‘Noortpurple’ exhibits long flower peduncles.    -   3. ‘Noortpurple’ exhibits greater resistance to soil fungi        relative to other Geranium cinereum cultivars.    -   4. ‘Noortpurple’ exhibits flowers that are consistent in color        throughout the plant.

The female parent of ‘Noortpurple’ differs from ‘Noortpurple’ in havingflowers that are lighter purple in color with less conspicuous veinswith peduncles that are shorter in length, and in having a shorter plantheight. The male parent of ‘Noortpurple’, ‘Laurence Flatman’, differsfrom ‘Noortpurple’ in having smaller flowers that are lilac and darkpurple in color and in having peduncles that are shorter in length.‘Noortpurple’ can also be compared to the Geranium cinereum cultivar,‘Purple Pillow’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,829). ‘Purple Pillow’ is similarto ‘Noortpurple’ in overall plant shape. ‘Purple Pillow’ differs from‘Noortpurple’ in having flowers that are smaller in size, lighter purplein color and less consistent in color and having peduncles that areshorter in length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Geranium. The photographs weretaken of a one year-old plant of ‘Noortpurple’ as field grown inWarmond, The Netherlands and placed in a container for the photographs.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides an overall view of a plant of‘Noortpurple’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of‘Noortpurple’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of‘Noortpurple’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digitalphotography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description accurately describe the colors of the newGeranium.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of one year-old plants of thenew cultivar as field grown in Warmond, The Netherlands. The phenotypeof the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic,and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance withThe 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   General characteristics:    -   -   Blooming period.—April to June in The Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Plant habit.—Low growing, spreading, and flattened with            flowers held above the foliage.        -   Height and spread.—An average of 20 cm in height and 30 cm            in spread as a one year-old plant in the garden.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 5.        -   Diseases.—Observed to have some resistance to soil fungi            caused by Botrytis cinerea and Pythium spp.        -   Root description.—Fibrous and fine, primarily N167B and            N170A in color.        -   Root development.—An average of 20 weeks to fully develop            from a rooted cutting in a 9-cm container.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Propagation.—In vitro propagation (preferred) and root            cuttings.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem size.—Average of 7.9 cm in length and 2.5 mm in width.        -   Stem shape.—Round.        -   Stem color.—145A, upper side tinged 177D.        -   Stem surface.—Slightly glossy with stems moderately covered            with very short soft adpressed hairs; average of 0.5 mm in            length and too small to measure color.        -   Stem strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Internode length.—Average of 6.6 cm.        -   Branching.—Moderately branched with an average of 12 lateral            branches.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Reniform (in outline), palmately deeply cleft to            parted with an average of seven lobes.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Hastate (free to slightly overlapping).        -   Leaf apex.—Abruptly acute.        -   Leaf venation.—Palmate, upper and lower side 143A.        -   Leaf margins.—Palmately deeply cleft to parted into an            average of seven lobes, margins of lobes incised.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper side slightly glossy, lower side matte,            both sides moderately covered with short and soft adpressed            hairs, average of 0.5 mm in length and too small to measure            color.        -   Leaf size.—Average of 2.9 cm in length and 3.1 cm in width.        -   Leaf color.—Upper surface young; N137A, lower surface young;            137B, upper surface mature; color between N137C and 139A,            lower surface mature; 137C.        -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 4 leaves per lateral branch.        -   Petioles.—Average of 8.3 cm in length and 1 mm in diameter,            144B in color, surface puberulent.        -   Stipules.—2 leafy stipules are present at the base of the            leaves, narrow deltoid in shape, narrow acuminate apex,            truncate base, average of 1 cm in length and 3 mm in width,            color; both surfaces 145C to 145D, both surfaces puberulent.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Single, rotate flowers, arranged in            pairs.        -   Lastingness of flowers.—About 7 days on the plant, sepals            persistent.        -   Flower size.—Average of 1.7 cm in height and 3.6 cm in            diameter.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Flower number.—Average of 8 flowers and bud per lateral            system, average of 124 per plant.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright to slightly outward.        -   Flower buds.—Broad elliptic to broad obovate in shape,            average of 9 mm in length and up to 6 mm in diameter, 138B            in color with veins N137A, surface densely covered with            short soft hairs 1 mm in length and NN155D in color.        -   Corolla features.—Petals are unfused and arranged in a            rotate form, slightly cupped.        -   Petal number.—5.        -   Petal shape.—Obcordate.        -   Petal color.—When opening upper surface; N74A, base tinged            72A, veined N186A, when opening lower surface; N74A, veined            N186C, fully open upper surface; N74A, base a color between            71A and 72A, veined N186A, fully open lower surface; 72A,            base 71A, veined N186C.        -   Petal surface.—Both sides matte and velvety.        -   Petal margins.—Entire with retuse apex.        -   Petal apex.—Retuse.        -   Petal size.—Average of 1.9 cm in length and 1.7 cm in width.        -   Calyx.—Rotate and cupped, 6 mm in length and 1.7 cm in            diameter.        -   Sepals.—5, ovate in shape, average of 1 mm length and 4 mm            in width, entire margin, mucronate apex, cuneate base, both            surfaces matte, color; young upper surface; 143A, young            lower surface; 138A to 138B, mature upper surface; 143A,            mature lower surface; 138A to 138B.        -   Peduncles.—Round in shape, average of 11.8 cm in length and            1 mm in diameter, strong, held at a 35° angle to the lateral            branch, color of surfaces are 145A, upper surface (sun            exposed) can be tinged with 177D, surface puberulent.        -   Pedicels.—Round in shape, average of 1.6 cm in length and 1            mm in diameter, strong, one flower straight on top of            peduncle, the second flower held in an average angle of 35°            to lateral branch, color of surfaces are 144A, surface            puberulent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, average of 7 mm in length, 5 stigmas            are decurrent (reflexed) and 187A in color, style is an            average of 4 mm in length and 143A in color, ovary is 143A            in color.        -   Androecium.—10 stamens, anthers are dorsifixed, oblong in            shape and held at a 90° angle on top of filament, 25 mm in            length, and 203A in color, filaments are 5 mm in length and            N186C in color, pollen is moderate in quantity and 10A in            color.        -   Fruit/seeds.—None detected.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named‘Noortpurple’ as herein illustrated and described.